Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-12-02

ED TAD.
Miss Smith started back inyoIuntar1-
ly.
"Mercy on us!' she exclaimed
"Why don't you speak little louder.'
she added, in sarcastic sort of roar
81 said fourteen, marm-in my tif-
teenth year." Tad yelled, with the full
power of his lungs; for, unfortunately.
he took her ironicnl suggestion in per-
feet good-faith.
Miss Smith dropped the rake-handle,
and sat down on the piazza steps.
Joe, whoos face was of lively purple
which extended to his ear-tips, began
to edge toward the gate.
You won't do, boy" screamed Miss
Smith, so sirilly that John Doty, who
was blowing in an adjoining field,
stopped his oxen and looked wonder
ingly across at the "old Smith place."
as it was locally called, while Sa-
mantha Mason, Miss Smiths "hired
help" rushed bare-armed from the
kitchen, with vague impression tina,
Miss Smith was in Mysteries.
Il can't hire any one as deaf as you
are, and run the risk of breaking a
blood-vessel hcllcring to you," con-
tinued Miss Smith in the same high
key, as Tad stood COMPOUNDED and de-
spondent at her abrupt refusal; "be
sides, I'm not SO hard of hearing as
all that comes to, and your voice goes
through my head like knife-yah-h-h!'
with which concluding ejaculation
Miss Smith put her hands to the
sides of her pasteboard sun-bonnet and
shuddered. "Why, amt deaf, marm!'
wonderingly exclaimed Tad, dropping
his voice several octaves, "and l
wouldn't have spoke so loud only Joe
said you was hard of hearing, an if he
was me he'd speak up good and loud"
Joe could stand it no longer. With
an explosive yell of laughter he lodged
through the gate, and, dropping in the
green sward, ut a safe distance,
doubled himself up in an ecstasy of I'M
seemly mirth.
Joe Whitney," gasped Miss Smith,
starting to her feet and shaking her
finger threatening in the direction Of
the PROSTATE practical joker, as the
truth Of the matter flashed across her
mind, "you see if your father don't
hear of this, sir!'
But her Indignation was always
short lived, and gradually grim smile
softened the hard lines of her face,
though the overshadowing head-gear
hid it from Tad's anxious gaze.
"And so you want place. ehP" she
sail, abruptly, but not unkindly, as
sic turned her sharp gray eyes full
N Tad, who was looking reproach-
.lly at Joe as, having risen, he
atiousiy advanced within earshot.
If You please, ma m," was the re-
ctful answer, and Tad looked plead
" up at the maiden lady as he
IKE. Something in his thin, pale
&c moved Miss Smiths heart curl
casly.
.he boys who had worked for her
ri n time to time had generally been
Intelligent, brown-faced boys, with
l-rge appetites and tenency to idle
lay as much time as they possibly
could.
Hes got look 1 kind of like,
ough he is pindling sort of boy"
ught Miss Smith, rubbing her nos.
lectivcly.
Don't you dare enter that gate,
52seph Whitney, she exclaimed, with
sudden energy, as Joe, with traces Of
is recent mirth OH his features, edged
himself along the front fence.
''No, marm,' responded Joe, in a
voice suggestive of the deepest contri-
ton. Affecting to be overcome with
m0rseful sorrow, he applied II small
'ad-loardered coito, handkerchief to
is eyes, and sobbed rslerically. after
which, twisting it b. zen his fingers,
he feigned to rr.ng tears of bitter
griaf from lis fo.;.s.
Turning her back a-l4 -..o arch dis
sembler, Miss Smith ,p-es..l, J 10 pat
Tad through rapid .eeo- r1csjian-
inc. Did he smoke swear? Had h.
been vaccinated? y his f.'ar aud
mother living? Hal hoca -Looi?
What church did = rtt-- sad
few other queries. O. .--
C1 all points exec thct Of cerch-
going Tad's answer .-,e 81, ATS
factory; and Miss 5 d grac:oo~'y adj
mitted that his lac Of clothes was a
tolerably reasonable Reuse fer his de-
iiciency in that one pect.
Il guess you'll do she finally said,
Sat least I'm minded try you, soyou
can come over and in work early
Monday morning"
THANK you, marm," replied Tad,